Jeff Reed's job on the line
Although his missed field goal probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference in Sunday’s outcome, the Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly looking to replace their inconsistent kicker, Jeff Reed. According to a report made by ESPN.com on Monday 15 November,
the decision comes just a day after Reed missed his seventh field goal attempt of the season (in 22 tries), as the Steelers fell to the New England Patriots Sunday night, 39-26.
Following the loss, the kicker hinted at faulty characteristics on the Heinz Field turf, the Steelers’ home stadium. “I’m not one to make excuses. I’ll take credit for the miss,” the nine-year veteran told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “It was a great snap,
a great hold, great protection. It’s kind of hard when you plant your foot and the hole, a piece of ground moves where the ball’s under the holder. I almost missed the ball completely.”
“I’m not going to make excuses,” Reed reiterated. “If you’ve played any kind of sports in your life, you realize that what we play on is not very good turf. It happens.” Five of Reed’s seven inaccurate attempts this season have come at home, a number that he
would probably claim is skewed as a result of the questionable Heinz Field turf.
Sunday’s miss came while Pittsburgh was down 17-3, struggling to gain any offensive production against a stout Patriots defence. However, the Steelers were able to put together a little bit of offence, maintaining a seven play, 59-yard drive, only to have it
erased by Reed’s failed attempt.
Reed was later chastised by his own fans after a successful extra point attempt in the early stages of the fourth quarter, though the veteran did not seem shocked. “It doesn’t surprise me,” he told the Post-Gazette. “If you’re not perfect in this city, man,
then you’re going to hear about it. It’s been like that for nine years, and why would they stop now?”
According to the report, the team will be evaluating possible replacements for Reed during Tuesday’s workouts.
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